I first heard this phrase "Sunshine Friends" used by a very
wise and elderly woman one day. She refered to them this
way because these people lack the strength to go through
the darkest hours with someone. They are first to turn and
run. They are not the kind of person you could ever rely on. It
takes a strong backbone to stay and support someone else
who is suffering. It's not about running at the first sign of
trouble.
Many people today who consider themselves a Christian
will turn and run from God too when things get rough. They
say, "Well, God it's been nice knowing You, but it's time to
go." Christianity calls for strong individuals who can stick out
the toughest times because they know that in the evening
hours there will be weeping but the morning always brings
the true joy. It's knowing that life is a growing process. A true
Christian never says he "can't" because this word is not
used in the Bible. Can't is just not an option. It's going
through the tough times and knowing that Jesus will take
you through to the other side, to the true joy of the morning.
There was one woman in the Bible named Oprah. She lived
in a land where idolatry ran rampant. She lived in the world,
in a city called Moab. Then one day a woman named Naomi
along with her husband and two sons moved from
Bethlehem, a city that served the One true living God and
came to Moab because of a famine. Oprah married one of
Naomi's sons and became a believer too. But, then a
terrible thing happened. Naomi's husband and two sons
died. This left Naomi all alone in a strange land and it left
her two daughters-in-law, Oprah and Ruth widows as well.
Naomi heard how God had visited His people in Bethlehem
by giving them food again. (Ruth 1:6) She decided to go
back to her hometown but she told her daughters-in-law to
stay in their own land. At first they both reputed her and said
they would stay with her. But Naomi said, "Why will you go
with me? I don't have any more sons for you to marry and
even if I were to have more, they would be too young for you
anyway." (Ruth 1:11-12) She tried to convince them that they
should not wait on her or wait to remarry. (Ruth 1:13)
Their first reaction was to cry (Ruth 1:14). But only Oprah
kissed her mother-in-law and said goodbye. Ruth clung to
Naomi's side. Naomi pointed out to Ruth that Oprah has
gone back to her own people and to be with her gods and
advised for her to do the same.
This is a typical reaction of most people. When the going
gets tough, they high tail it out of there. Oprah went back to
her own people, to be in the world and to be with her "gods".
We are like that today. We think we can't give up our "gods"
either. How will we make it without our things? So, the first
thing we do is cry to make it look sincere, and then we kiss
our love of Christ goodbye. The world and our "gods" seem
so much better.
But Ruth on the other hand was prepared to go the distance
with Naomi. She had complete and total trust in her. Our
trust in Christ needs to be strong enough for us too to know
that the going may be shaky, but we will be ok. Ruth was not
side tracked by the circumstances around her. We need this
kind of sight as Christians in today's living. There are so
many things that will hinder this sight unless we just step
out in faith and go! Ruth had that kind of faith.
Ruth was very sincere when she told Naomi that she would
go the distance with her no matter what. (Ruth 1:17) Is our
walk with Christ that sincere today? Would we die for Him?
When Naomi saw her sincerity, she decided to say no more
to her. (Ruth 1:18) When Christ sees our sincerity He holds
out His hand and says, "Follow Me," no more questions
asked.
But what the enemy meant for evil, God meant for good.
Naomi wanted to change her name from Naomi meaning
"pleasant" to Mara which means "bitter" (Ruth 1:20). She
assumed God was punishing her. How many times do we
get "bitter" and assume the same thing? But, not so. God
will put us through trials in order to get us where we need to
be to receive His blessings. It was essential that all this
took place because Ruth was in line for Christ's being.
Satan will get us off our journey so we won't receive what
God has for us. When we know this, we must be dedicated
to follow through with God's plans, even though they may
make no sense to us at the time. I'm sure Ruth was just as
scared to set out on a new journey to the unknown. But if
she hadn't gone, she would've missed out on so much
more. Could you be missing out on something wonderful
because of a lack of faith?
As a result of Ruth's total commitment God blessed her to
meet and marry Boaz who saved her from being molested
in the fields. He redeemed Ruth because it was an Old
Testament Law since he was the next of kin that was
available to redeem her. Christ redeemed us also and for
that we should be eternaly grateful. Christ is also our
Kinsman. He was fully God and fully human in order to be
our Kinsman Who would redeem us also. He kept us from
being molested also. We aren't just tip toeing
through the tulips here, we have been bought back by Christ
Who is our "Kinsman Redeemer" and we are His bride. We
need to take our vows with Him very seriously. We can't bail
just because we don't think something feels good or not.
Naomi told Ruth to go to Boaz. She did as she was told and
asked Boaz to find favor with her (Ruth 2:13) At which point
he did and made sure she was safe from harm. Christ will
keep us safe too when we find favor in His sight. We do that
by confessing our sins and commiting all our ways to Him.
Here is where the weak Christian grows faint. But, this is not
a game of Hide and Seek. It's time to stand out and be
counted.
As a result of her obedience to Naomi, she married Boaz
and they produced a son named Obed. The women of
Bethlehem said to Naomi, "Blessed be the Lord, Who has
not left you this day without a close kinsman, and may his
name be famous in Israel." (Ruth 4:14) God never left her
and as she had a close kinsman, so do we, His name is
Jesus.
Then they said, "May he be to you a restorer of life and a
nourisher and supporter in your old age, for your
daughter-in-law who loves you, who is better to you than
seven sons, has borne him." (Ruth 4:15)
Christ is our restorer of life and He nourishes and supports
us in our old age also. Because Ruth loved Naomi so
much, God blessed Naomi with a restorer who was better
than her own sons. Christ says if we aren't willing to give up
mother or father or children for His sake, we aren't fit for the
kingdom of heaven. We need to love Christ first over all.
Naomi had learned to love her daughter-in-law more than
her own sons, she loved God enough to let them go. Are we
willing to love God that much today?
So God's blessings came through Ruth because she bore
Obed and Obed bore Jesse who fathered king David and of
course David was in Christ's lineage.
So, sometimes God gives us things to overcome before He
will bless us. These hard times are what separates the real
men from the boys or the real Christians from the
professing Christian. Do you have what it takes to follow
Christ? What are you willing to give up to follow him? If you
are like Oprah and run back to her "gods", you won't receive
the blessings either.
Be like Ruth in your conquest for the glory of the kingdom. It
takes alot of hard work and effort, but God will not lead you
astray. Whatever He started in your life, He has vowed to
finish it to the end.
There is always a happy ending with Jesus who is the
beginning of our journey.
If you're not sure you have what it takes to go on this journey,
just confess your sins to God and accept His Son Christ as
Lord over your life. He will give you the strength to keep
going in the midst of the darkest storms. Remember, there
is always joy in the morning!
Ruth came through the weeping and ended up laughing
and leeping with joy!
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